The Colts come away with a top Big Ten tight end prospect in this year’s 2025 NFL Draft per this latest mainstream mock draft.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid (subscription), the Indianapolis Colts will select a top tight end with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft—although it’s not Tyler Warren.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Colts had the fewest receiving yards from tight ends in the NFL in 2024. They also need to add at the position because Mo Alie-Cox is set to be a free agent. Loveland performed well despite erratic Michigan QB play this past season, catching 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He’s a glorified big receiver who transitions in and out of breaks with ease while showing excellent hands. He’s better flexed out but can play in-line if needed. Loveland could create mismatches and be the safety blanket quarterback Anthony Richardson desperately needs.
The listed 6’6,” 248 pound junior tight end recorded 56 receptions for 582 receiving yards (10.4 ypr. avg.) and 5 touchdown receptions during 10 starts this past season—earning 2nd-Team All-American and Big Ten honors respectively.
He was a CFP Champion and First-Team All Big Ten member for the Wolverines back in 2023.
Here’s his NFL.com draft profile:
Overview
Talented young tight end with the athletic ability and ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher. Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels. He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option. His routes can be a little hurried and lacking in detail but that should change with coaching. He’s graceful in-air and catches the ball with good timing and strong hands. He will keep filling out his frame but is unlikely to ever become more than average as a blocker. Colston’s collection of athletic traits and catch talent creates a high ceiling with the opportunity to become a high-volume target and future Pro Bowler.
While not the same caliber of powerful run blocker as Warren, Loveland is more in the mold of a prototypical ‘move’ receiving tight end with the ability to play all over the field, catch with sure hands, run polished routes, and separate downfield.
It goes without saying that the Colts received very little from their tight end room receiving-wise collectively this past season—and both veteran Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson are set to become free agents. Loveland would immediately provide a major receiving upgrade—even as an NFL rookie.
Like many Colts fans, I’d feel a bit disappointed that Indianapolis didn’t ultimately end up with Warren here, who went #9 overall earlier to the New Orleans Saints.
That being said, Loveland wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize, especially when considering how Colts head coach Shane Steichen could routinely use his offensive versatility to scheme him as a receiver in a multiple of different looks for potential mismatches and to keep opposing defenses off-balance and/or guessing.